The Syracuse girls’ golf team felt comfortable all day. It felt relaxed, confident that it could accomplish what it went to Emporia to accomplish. At the end of the day, the Lady Bulldogs realized it had reason to feel confident in its ability to win a state championship.
With a team score of 398, it did.
“This is a team that has five or six girls that can shoot in the low 90s,” said Syracuse head coach Rick Mathias. “It was one of those days we came in here and just felt comfortable. We felt good all day. We were so relaxed.”
This is also a team that shot a score of 375 earlier in the season in 50 mph wind.
Syracuse’s season has been one of long practices, much information taught and much information learned. Mathias said the team’s practices were close to three hours long at times. Still, nobody on the squad ever looked at their watch.
“These girls throughout the year have played outstanding,” said Mathias. “We’ve put so much information in front of these girls this year, and they’ve been eager for it. Some of our practices were three hours long and not one of them ever belly-ached.”
Mathias went on to say this season has been one of the most rewarding years he’s coached.
“When you can get on the course and can teach your players, it’s great,” he said. “There were times we had to drag them off the course. They were so eager to learn.”
Considering the cold, windy weather and difficulty of the course, it’s a wonder scores weren’t higher than they were. The majority of golfers reached the 110-stroke mark, some 120 and others climbed as high as 160. That’s conservative compared to past years, when many golfers hit 160 and even 170.
“This is a lot of course for girls,” said Mathias. “This team has adjusted to the elements all year long. I could not be happier with them.”
Bennington’s Kasie Garrison led for most of the day when she turned in a 95. However, top-seeded Rebecca Holder had other ideas. Silver Lake’s top golfer finished the course and turned in an 87 for the individual championship.
Holder led her team to a third-place finish and Hoisington took second place.
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